2016 Could Still Be Warmest Year On Record

Much of the U.S. got a bitter cold taste of the “Siberian Express” during the past several days – a large mass of arctic air originating in Russia. But present conditions notwithstanding, NOAA scientists say the planet still has a shot at seeing the hottest year on record in 2016.

Global average temperatures in November over land and ocean surfaces were the fifth highest on record (since 1880). And the period stretching from September to November was the second only to 2015 temperatures.

For November 2016, global land temperatures were 1.71 ˚F above the 20th century average of 42.6 ˚F. Global sea temperatures, meanwhile, were 1.17 ˚F above the 20th century monthly average of 60.4 ˚F. Significant portions of the U.S. saw record warm temperatures, including parts of the Southwest and Great Lakes regions.

There were a few notable exceptions, however, including cooler-than-average temperatures across much of Russia and Kazakhstan, western Australia and some small areas in the Pacific Ocean.

The year-to-date global temperatures from January to November are the highest on record so far, at 1.69 ˚F above the 20th century average of 57.2 ˚F. To tie the warmest year on record, December will have to clock in at 0.41 ˚F or less above the 20th century monthly average.